The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-12-14
NAMES LESSON.
How Her Wrong-Doing Brought Its Own
Punishment.

NAV as she stood on the lower step Of
the broad stairway and looked up at the
tall old-fashioned clock which was tick
ing solemnly away on the landing, just
as it had licked every day of Mamie's
short life. Ten minutes of nine, and i'll
lust ten minutes more the clock would
strike, and mamma would call; ut is
time for your half-hour's practice,
Mamie"
And she did so want to finish the
new dress she was making for Arabe.la.
OF course, it could be finished AFTER
ward, but she wanted to complete it
now, and put it on SO that her waxen
ladyship would be all ready for her to
take out for walk. If only that per-
sistent old clock would stop for few
minutes! but no, it licked steadily or,
and while Mamie stood on the stairs e
gained minute, so now she had only
nine minutes left. Grandpa had just
been winding the clock, and with care
lessness that was very unusual. he had
forgotten to lock the door of the tall
case. Mamie's quick eyes spied that
twas ajar, and perhaps it was this that
made sudden temptation flash into
her mind.
Why not push the hand backward.
and gain time to finish Arabella's
dress? 1t would not really be much
harm; for she would have to practice
her half-hour just the same. argued
the tempter; and though Mamie knew
better than to believe that it was no
harm to deceive, she was only too will
ing to yield.
She ran to the hat-rack and got
grandpa's umbrella, and, going up
stairs, listened, fearful, for moment,
lest some one should come along the
hall and see what she was doing; then,
opening the door of the clock, she
reached up. and with the handle of
the umbrella pushed the large hand
of the clock back twenty minutes.
With IL beating heart she hastily
closed the door and returned the UNI
brella to its place. Then she went back
to her dolls dress
Somehow all the pleasure had van
ished from her task; and when she
found she had sewed the sleeves IN
| wrong side up, she put away her little
work-box without trying to repair the
mistake.
The stolen twenty minutes seemed
the longest that Mamie had ever
known, and it was relief to her when
at last the nine strokes sounded. She
went to the piano without being re-
minded, and practiced scales and exer-
cises with unusual care, trying by e1-
ceptional diligence to make up for her
wrong-doing.
| Before the half-hour had elapsed,
mamma came in with smile of APP
prevail.
you have practiced very faithfully
this morning, Mamie, and now have
pleasant surprise for you. Uncle
Herbert sent me word that he will be
on the train that stops at the station
here at quarter past nine, and he wants
to take you home to spend the day
with Aunt Bessy; then he will put you
on the evening train, and papa will
meet you. Won't that be nice? Now
you have plenty of time to get dressed
and walk quietly over to the station
before train-time, and / will excus
you from practicing the other ten min
utes.
All Mamie's troublesome thoughts
vanished at the prospect Of this unex-
pected pleasure, and her face was as
bright as June morning while she
prepared for the little trip. Suddenly
the shrill whistle of the approaching
train made her look up in dismay.
ooh, I shall be later' she cried.
"Mamma, isn't that the train whistling
now?"
..lt sounds like it, but it must be
special; for it is twenty minutes ye
before the train is due. l just locke
at the clock" answered mamma
: Twenty minutes! Mamie suddenly
remembered how she had stolen that
: twenty minutes by pushing back the
: hand of the clock. and as she realized
;, that she had indeed missed the train
/, and her anticipated pleasure, she
J, threw herself on the floor in passion
l of tears.
Her wrong-doing had brought it.
i own punishment, and it had been {
, hard one; for Mamie counted visit tt
Aunt Bessy among her greatest pleas
. ures.
p With her tear-stained face hidden
y mammals shoulder, she confessed fh'
o truth; and no word of reproof wa
J needed to add to her sorrow.
o The little girl had learned the lessor
!, that every one has to learn sooner o
). later-that sin brings its own punish
f ment, though it may not always com
r as swiftly as it did to Mamie tina
5 bright summer neutrality-suspicious. Z
n Ken,aey, TN S. S. Times.
-Highwayhan- Hold up your hands
10 Bill, cover him with that ere gun
" Now, sir, shell out Gamboge (wit
J. hollow laugh)-My dear fellow, "
lie been here four weeks. Bill Gin tn
!, I.1..\ ~ b;,o nose Tim He ain